Summer Intensive

DATES: June 16-21 [Mon-Sat]

TUITION: $575 [payment plan options]

LOCATION:  Rudolf  Steiner Branch of the Anthroposophical Society

4249 N Lincoln Avenue

Chicago, IL 60618

SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK

8:15am: Gathering and Announcements

8:30am: Morning Presentation: The Art of Goethean Conversation with Paul Newton

The course begins before we come together with reading Marjorie Spock's short text The Art of Goethean Conversation. In this booklet she describes conversation as a spiritual practice centered upon individuals' "burning questions". Participants will be asked to bring a question that is deeply meaningful to them, perhaps arising from the training so far (but not necessarily).

Through the week we will engage with issues and imaginative pictures connected to conscious conversation (including further work with the text as necessary) - and then we will practice the art! We will have conversation around one or more of the questions gathered and there will also be generous time to reflect together on the conversation. This will include developing together a vocabulary for describing our experiences.  

10am:  Break

10:30am: Collaborative Artwork with Frances Vig and Karolina Nowak

Listening and speaking can fall into polarities and both polarities can become subtle forms of tyranny in human communication. When speaking dominates the listeners can become silent hostages without a voice. When listening becomes a form of silence where thoughts are with held a different quality of void opens. Either one creates imbalance in human communication, losing access to the space in between.

The artistic thread for this week will focus on these spaces in between. Working as a group, we will exercise speaking and listening by engaging generative activity using gesture in color and form. In our noisy world we will work with the power of silent but active, attention and reflection as we work together.

12pm:  Lunch

1pm:  Waldorf Learning Support 1 with Kris Boshell

Rudolf Steiner described 12 senses, several of which are coming to light in the wide world more and more—in fact 8 of 12 are being recognized today. Four senses are foundational for the functioning of our highest senses, not yet recognized by those unfamiliar with spiritual science. These support Goethean conversation and the development of a healthy social life in the world. 

These four foundational senses are at risk of being underdeveloped in today’s children. We hear increasing reports of children at younger and younger ages suffering from anxiety, nervousness and depression, along with reports of the need for increasing support services in schools for students who cannot engage and participate. Unfortunately, this is also true in the developmentally based curriculum offered by Steiner Waldorf Schools around the world.

Let's have a closer look at what Rudolf Steiner told us about the development of the senses—with emphasis on the foundational four. These four senses are basic to a mature and resilient social life—so important in our world today. We will explore how to support development of these four senses with health-promoting activities for the classroom and their relevance for adult social development.

2:30pm: Break

2:45pm: Waldorf Learning Support 2 with Kris Boshell

4pm:  Closing of the Day